Stevie Oakes became enamored with dance at her first ballet performance while living in Amsterdam. Her serious study of classical ballet began soon after under the tutelage of Sandra Balestracci. After earning a degree in Chemistry and Kinesiology from the College of William & Mary with Phi Beta Kappa honors, Oakes received her MFA in Dance from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Living in New York City, she performed works by a diverse collection of artists including Tere O'Connor, Gus Solomons, jr, Gina Gibney, and Gerald Casel. She continues to enjoy an active performance career, filling the stage with choreography by Elizabeth Shea, Tammy Carrasco, James Hansen, Roseanne Spradlin, and Alexandra Beller among other artists.
As a member of the team at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Oakes combines her passions for dance and science as both educator and researcher. In 2018, she received the Dance Educator Award from the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science for her continued dedication to the innovation of dance teaching to support dancer health and wellness. Oakes enthusiastically joined the dance faculty as an Assistant Professor at the College at Brockport, SUNY in 2014, simultaneously continuing to teach as a guest and develop curriculum across the country.
The College of Arts